Getting from Antikythera to Ithaca

If you are heading to Ithaca from Antikythera you are making your way from one of the most remote islands in Greece to an island in the Ionian Sea, on the opposite side of the country. It is the legendary home of Odysseus with a deep central bay at Vathy that is one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the Ionian.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Antikythera to Ithaca. No Aegean island is connected by sea to any Ionian island. Antikythera's ferry connections are limited to Kythira, Piraeus, Kissamos in Crete and occasional ports on the southern Peloponnese. Getting to Ithaca means taking the ferry from Antikythera to Piraeus, which takes around 9 hours, and then either flying to Kefalonia from Athens and taking the short ferry from Sami to Ithaca, which takes around 20 to 30 minutes, or driving to Astakos for the direct ferry to Ithaca, which takes around 2 to 2.5 hours.

Getting there by air

Ithaca has no airport. The nearest airport is Kefalonia. Antikythera has no airport, only a helipad. Taking the ferry from Antikythera to Kythira, flying to Athens and then Athens to Kefalonia, followed by the short ferry from Sami to Ithaca, gives a total journey time of around 6 to 7 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Antikythera to Kythira, fly to Athens and then fly to Kefalonia and take the short ferry across to Ithaca from Sami. It is the most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, take the overnight ferry from Antikythera to Piraeus and drive to Astakos or Patras for the ferry across to Ithaca.